This document discusses disorders of the adrenal glands, including hyperactivity and hypoactivity. Hyperactivity disorders include Cushing's syndrome, hyperaldosteronism, and adrenogenital syndrome. Cushing's syndrome can be caused by excessive cortisol secretion from the pituitary gland (Cushing's disease) or the adrenal glands (Cushing's syndrome). Symptoms include obesity, muscle weakness, osteoporosis, hyperglycemia, and hypertension. Hypoactivity disorders include chronic and acute adrenal insufficiency (Addison's disease and Addisonian crisis), which can be caused by adrenal gland failure or damage. Signs of Addison's disease include pigmentation, muscular weakness, hypotension,

1. M.Prasad Naidu
MSc Medical Biochemistry,
Ph.D.Research Scholar

2. Disorders of adrenal glands
Hyperactivity:-
1. Cushing’s syndrome
2. Hyperaldosteronism
3. Adrenogenital syndrome
Hypoactivity:-
1. chronic adrenal insufficiency:Addison’s disease
2. acute adrenal insufficiency: Addisonian crisis or Adrenal
crisis
3. Congenital adrenal hyperplasia

3. Cushing’s syndrome
A disorder characterized by obesity due to
hypersecretion of GCs.
Causes:-
Due to excessive secretion of GCs.
Particularly due to oversecretion of cortisol
If it is due to pituitary origincushing’s Di
If it is due to adrenal origin cushing’s Sy

4. Pituitary origin(cushing’s disease)
↑ of ACTH causes secretion of GCs↑
Elevation of ACTH secretion occurs due to
1. Tumor in pituitary cells particularly in basophils
which secrete ACTH.
2. cancer of lungs
3. hypothalamic disorder causing CRF↑

5. Adrenal origin(cushing’s syndrome)
Increased secretion of Cortisol occurs in the following
conditions.
1. Tumor in zona fasciculata of A.cortex.
2. carcinoma of adrenal cortex.
3. Treatment with excessive dose of ACTH which
stimulates A.cortex excessively.
4. Treatment with excessive GCs can also cause
Cushing’s syndrome.

6. symptoms
there is redistribution of fat in abnormal manner (pot
belly)
Obesity affecting the face
The muscles become weak bcos of protein depletion.
Osteoporosis develops and bones become susceptable to
fracture.
Hyperglycemia  due to gluconeogenesis
Hyperglycemia leads to glucosuria and adrenal diabetes.
Hypertension.

7. Addison’s disease
Causes:- failure of a.cortex to secrete corticosteroids
occurs due to the following:
1. atrophy of A.cortex due to autoimmune diseases
2. destruction of the gland during TB
3. destruction of hormone secreting cells in A.cortex by
malignant tissues.
4. congenital failure to secrete cortisol
5. failure of anterior pituitary
6. lesion in area of hypathalamus where corticotropin
releasing hormone is produced.

8. Signs and symptoms
Pigmentation of skin & mucus membrane
Muscular weakness
Hypotension
Hypoglycemia
Nausea, vomitting & diarrhea (if prolonged leads to
dehydration & loss of body wt.)
Susceptibility to any type of infection and
Inability to withstand any stress
↓cardiac output and decreased workload of the heart
leading to decrease in the size of heart.